A doctor told of the non-obvious signs of cancer

Cancer often sneaks up unnoticed, masquerading as ordinary ailments or symptoms that can be blamed on stress, age or vitamin deficiency. However, some unusual manifestations may signal serious changes in the body, especially at the age of over 45-50 years, Evgeny Ledin, MD, oncologist, member of the Board of the Oncology Charitable Foundation, told Izvestia on February 3.

"The spectrum of symptoms is wide. Among them can be distinguished more characteristic, classical: unexplained weight loss, the appearance of formations in the body in the form of balls and lumps, prolonged unexplained pain, any discharge of blood in the stool, in the urine, from the genital tract outside the critical days, when coughing," - explained Ledin.

According to him, some patients with tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, especially in gastric cancer, note that suddenly stopped liking meat: favorite meat dishes cause disgust. This symptom is associated with a change in metabolism and such a reaction of the body to the presence of malignant cells. This sensation can be accompanied by a feeling of rapid overfilling with food, weakness, weight loss and this is a reason to consult a doctor.

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In addition, if there is a feeling of difficulty in swallowing food or a feeling of "sticky" food in the throat, it may indicate the presence of a tumor of the esophagus. Usually, discomfort is first felt when swallowing hard foods, and then can affect soft and liquid foods as well. If this swallowing problem continues for more than two weeks, especially when combined with heartburn, pain or weight loss, and bad breath, you should see your doctor.

"If the usual rhythm of bowel function is disturbed for a long period of time and is weakly dependent on diet, much less accompanied by pain, blood and/or mucus in the stool, weight loss, and weakness, it may be a sign of bowel disease," Ledin said.

According to the specialist, hoarseness of the voice without signs of cold and ligament strain for 2-3 weeks may be a signal to visit a doctor. If the voice becomes coarser, there is a feeling of a lump in the throat or difficulty swallowing, it may be associated with pathology of the larynx, thyroid gland or lungs. This is especially true for smokers.

"The presence of prolonged non-healing ulcers or wounds in the mouth, which do not heal for several weeks, may be an early sign of cancer of the mouth or throat. The symptom is most common in smokers, people who regularly drink alcohol, and wearers of dentures that rub the mucosa," summarized Ledin.

Earlier, on January 14, SM-Clinica oncologist Rasul Akhmaev told Izvestia that stomach cancer is considered one of the most aggressive cancers. He noted that this severe disease can behave unpredictably, despite good prognoses for treatment at early stages.